22 – Graduation Ceremony (4)

“…Well…then, by any chance, is an older brother you know coming…?”

“…….”

There could be no question that complicated Song Soo-yeon’s mind more than that.

It was a question, but it didn’t seem like a question.

It was too specific.

I didn’t ask about my parents, I didn’t ask about my brothers, I didn’t ask about my cousins.

She asked ‘an older brother she knew’, and the person coming to her graduation ceremony also answered ‘an older brother she knew’.

It was a question as if he knew Jeong-gyeom.

And for some reason, it got on her nerves.

‘Do you know Uncle?’ The question lingered in Song Soo-yeon’s mouth.

However, scared of Solas’ answer, Soo-yeon Song changes the question.

And the changed question had no choice but to stand on edge.

“……What are you going to do on your own?”

“….uh?”

“What does it matter who comes to my graduation ceremony?”

“Ah…no, not that, just curious. yes.”

Song Soo-yeon couldn’t figure out what to say in response to her words.

I couldn’t even understand why I felt this uncomfortable with just one question.

And since I don’t know the cause, it’s impossible to solve it. It was just a frustrating and annoying feeling with her.

To be honest, I felt more uncomfortable than when I was being bullied earlier.

Song Soo-yeon just wanted to get out of this space quickly.

As expected, school is not much different from hell. In some way, it left only uncomfortable memories.

“sister. Thank you for all this time… but I don’t want to get close to you.”

“….uh?”

“I hate that hero.”

Song Soo-yeon could not swallow the horses that started running.

“Heroes are just thugs hired to beat up villains.”

At her words, Solas’ expression gradually hardened.

Even so, Song Soo-yeon did not stop.

“So don’t keep trying to get my personal information. It’s hard enough just for my sister to come.”

To Solas, who stood still, Song Soo-yeon bowed and greeted her.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude for the past.

Then, Song Soo-yeon turned around. The time I was in school wasn’t that long as I had shortened classes, but it seemed like twice as much stress as usual.

…..I missed Jeonggyeom.

****

As Song Soo-yeon went back home, her feelings of frustration piled up. The awkwardness did not go away.

Solas’ question kept ringing in my head.

And that wasn’t all. Being confessed to by male students and being harassed by female students all made it difficult for her.

If there is something better than the past, it is that there is a window to relieve stress.

Looking at Jeong-gyeom, I knew that I could gradually calm this anger.

“……..”

But today, I was more frustrated than usual, so I felt like I wanted to receive a little stronger comfort.

While walking down the street, her eyes found a beauty salon.

Reflexively, Song Soo-yeon brushed her hair.

A lot of hair has grown.

Usually, she used scissors to cut her hair herself, but this time she wanted to be managed.

It wasn’t for any other reason, and as much as I knew that Jung-gyeom liked this look, I wanted to take care of it a little more.

Recently, Jung-gyeom gave himself a generous part-time job.

I wonder if I can write a little bit. You’ll have to collect the deposit quickly and return the studio… but if it’s full, it might not be a big deal.

Song Soo-yeon closed her eyes and imagined. If he cuts his hair and goes back, how will Jeong-gyeom react?

Since then, the choice has been an easy one. Song Soo-yeon went to the beauty salon.

****

The door lock beeps.

Lying on the bed, I got up. I think Song Soo-yeon is back.

– Clap.

The door opens, and Song Soo-yeon’s eyes look for me. I was not surprised by my existence whether I checked the text message.

“….I’m back.”

she says.

But I couldn’t focus on that greeting. There was something that caught my eye more quickly.

“…Sooyeon.”

I gradually hardened my expression and got up from the bed. and go to her

Song Soo-yeon brushed her hair and waited for me to come to the front door.

I was right in front of her.

His hand moved naturally to her cheek.

“……”

Then, I wake up in a flash. We shouldn’t forget that Song Soo-yeon is afraid of men.

The proof was that her eyes were carefully watching my hand.

I rolled up my open hand and clenched it into a fist.

In the end, he asked without touching her.

“……What happened at school?”

“……yes?”

I react sensitively to negative emotions. This is my specialty.

I may be clumsy with my feelings, the positive feelings of others, the way I make friends, etc., but the opposite was clear.

I realized that Song Soo-yeon’s expression was darker than usual.

I tried to hide it, but I knew it.

Song Soo-yeon sighed as if she was dumbfounded by my question.

“…No, shouldn’t something else be shown first?”

“…What…ah, did you cut your hair?”

“……..”

“You are pretty. Well cut.”

Song Soo-yeon brushes her bobbed hair a couple of times at my praise.

Still, that wasn’t what caught my attention.

“So, what happened at school?”

“…why do you have such a good feeling?”

“You can’t know if you don’t know. It’s so dead.”

“……”

Song Soo-yeon closed her mouth again. It seemed that he was trying to hide the cause.

She has a habit of hiding her pain.

I know why. Exposing your pain will only make you look weaker.

I did too.

Even before returning. In fact, even now.

He’s not the type to show pain that much.

But I didn’t like that, so I tried to change.

It is trying to make friends because you want to lean on someone.

I hoped that Song Soo-yeon would not continue to hide her pain.

She didn’t want me to go through the hardships I went through.

“….. Suyeon, don’t hide it-”

“- The kids bullied me.”

However, contrary to what I thought she would keep her mouth shut until the end, Song Soo-yeon told me the reason.

It was like a child telling his parents something.

I couldn’t help but be surprised.

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Did I become someone she could rely on?

Not sure yet. But if it was like that, it seemed that there was nothing more rewarding than this.

“Are the kids bullying you?”

I didn’t miss the opportunity and questioned him a little more. I realized one day that there is a part of pain that gets better just by talking about it.

I hoped that she would relieve some of the pain by talking to me.

“When boys I didn’t know refused to confess… I was bullied by jealous bitches. Stepping on shoes, pushing and pulling around…”

“……ha..”

But the more I hear the story, the more my heart throbs. I feel resentful and unfair for nothing.

It’s unfortunate, I’m sorry.

I had to resist the urge to rub her shoulders.

“…If there is a boy you like, you can confess. I don’t know why you’re jealous of it belatedly. Is it my fault that the boys confessed to me?”

“No. It’s not Su-yeon’s fault.”

“…Right? Even Hogu knows everything, they don’t know.”

As Song Soo-yeon continued her story, her face straightened. He seemed to be tidying up his chest little by little while talking to me.

“…Did you just get hurt like that?”

I asked.

Song Soo-yeon shook her head.

“no. The hero dispatched to the school came and cleaned it up. Because of you… there are heroes dispatched, right?”

“….I see.”

Song Soo-yeon continued her story with her eyes wide open, as if she were reliving the scenes that happened today one by one.

Then, for an instant, her expression crumpled.

“By the way, that hero knows among acquaintances…”

“know…?”

“……”

Song Su-yeon finished her speech. The focus returns to her eyes. Then he looked me up and down.

After hesitating for a moment, she gets annoyed with me.

“…..That’s Okay. You don’t have to know. What does your uncle know?”

“Tell me what? Let’s talk.”

“It’s okay.”

When he came to his senses, he must have felt ashamed to talk to me more.

It may not have been because he relied on me to express his concerns to me. Maybe he just needed someone to talk to.

But with that I was satisfied.

It would have been fine if I had expressed my concerns even a little.

“…But it’s all over now, Su-yeon. You don’t have to go back to class tomorrow, do you?”

“……What…yes.”

“okay. Good job during that time.”

I turn around. There was no need for the two of them to stand on the porch.

“Come in.”

“mister.”

“…yes?”

As I was heading into the room, Song Soo-yeon called me.

She was staring at the floor, unable to lift her face.

She stood there for a while without saying anything.

“…Is that hair really okay?”

“yes. pretty. It suits you really well.”

“……”

After hearing my words, she was fidgeting again, and suddenly started brushing her hair from the top of her head.

“…But I think my hair is a little damaged. It feels strange.”

“…..okay?”

“Just once…check it.”

I approached her again.

“Are you sure? what how?”

“…Touch me just once.”

She continued to hide her expression and continued talking.

Embarrassed, I asked the question again.

“…Do you want me to touch your hair?”

“… are you deaf? You asked me to check it out.”

“No, so. Do you want me to touch it and check it?”

“Is there any other way?”

“You don’t like being touched.”

“Mistress, if someone asks for a favor, at least make an effort to listen straight…!”

I shrugged.

“Did Suyeon ask for it?”

“…..”

I carefully grabbed the ends of her hair with my thumb and forefinger and ran my fingers through them.

I came back from the hair salon, so I smelled fresh.

It was soft to the touch, and it didn’t feel like my hair was damaged.

“…Are you okay?”

“What do you know when you touch it like that? I’m not kidding either. Fuck…”

“What are you trying to do? Say it straight.”

“ah…! I’m sorry…so…”

She stammered for a long time, trying to see if the words she wanted to say wouldn’t leave her mouth.

“ah…! just now…! Just like I did before…”

The voice that started out loud kept extinguishing the flames. I had to listen carefully to hear what she had to say.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Just like I did before, please confirm!”

She suddenly screamed loudly.

“How is that?”

“Oh shit, really. Rice, I’m afraid it’s not an idiot… It’s fucking frustrating.”

“Assholes talk too much…”

In front of me, who is intimidated, Song Soo-yeon brushes my hair a couple of times.

“I, check it like this, like this..!”

“You should have said that from the start.”

I repeated her actions. He hesitated for a moment before putting his hand on her head, but he did it because she told him to.

From the top of her head to the side, he gently stroked her hair, checking the feel. At first glance, it looked as if even her cheeks could be stroked.

……But is it right to check your hair like this? Actually, I think I was able to check my hair more properly when I rubbed it with my thumb and forefinger earlier.

It was fun, honestly.

It is beautiful that Song Soo-yeon is beautiful, but there is also the illusion that she has become a little closer.

After stroking her three or four times, Song Soo-yeon asked.

“Uh, uh, how are you…”

“it’s okay. It’s soft. I’m not hurt.”

“..Do you think it’s strange-”

“- No, no. Don’t worry.”

I raised my hand I turn my feet back into the house.

“mister.”

Song Soo-yeon called me back as I was getting farther away.

“Why?”

This time I look back at her.

With a slightly reddened expression, Song Soo-yeon said.

“….I’ll make you something delicious.”

“……”

I check the time for a moment.

It was lunchtime.

“Is it delicious?”

“…Jjajangmyeon…something like this.”

I gradually smiled. Yeah, that wasn’t a bad suggestion.

It’s good for relieving her stress, and it’s something I can do well.

And…it seemed like a good idea to suggest that she look elsewhere.

“Maybe?”

After thinking about it, I said with a smile.